Chelsea are ready to part ways with goalkeepers Kepa Arrizabalaga and Robert Sanchez this summer as the club prepares for a crucial 2025/26 campaign that includes both Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup duties.

According to reports from El Chiringuito, the Blues have made both shot-stoppers available for transfer, signalling a decisive change in direction as they seek to reinforce the squad under new head coach Enzo Maresca. The move is also seen as a step toward bringing in a more reliable presence between the posts.

Kepa Arrizabalaga, once the world’s most expensive goalkeeper after his €72m move from Athletic Bilbao, spent last season on loan at Bournemouth. While he delivered a respectable campaign on the South Coast, Bournemouth have so far shown little intent to make the move permanent. Interest from Bayer Leverkusen earlier in the season also failed to materialise into a deal.

Chelsea’s decision to extend Kepa’s contract before his loan was likely aimed at maintaining transfer value, but finding a suitor willing to take on his wages and meet Chelsea’s valuation remains a challenge.

Robert Sanchez, brought in from Brighton for £25m in 2023, has not lived up to expectations at Stamford Bridge. Despite being handed the No.1 jersey at the start of his debut campaign, inconsistent form and recurring lapses in concentration saw him fall out of favour, with fans and pundits alike questioning his suitability for a club of Chelsea’s ambitions.

In what could be one of Chelsea’s most critical moves this summer, the club are reportedly preparing a formal bid for AC Milan’s Mike Maignan. The French international, twice named Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year, is seen as an ideal candidate to become the new long-term No.1. Milan’s failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League and Maignan’s expiring contract have made the 29-year-old available for a relatively modest fee of €25m–€30m.
Bringing in Maignan would not only provide Chelsea with a commanding presence in goal, but also add vital experience ahead of the Club World Cup and a return to Europe’s top competition.